Peters Statement on President Biden’s Executive Order Securing America’s Supply Chains

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, today released the following statement on President Biden’s executive order securing our country’s supply chains:

“Whether it was the shortage of personal protective equipment early on in this pandemic – or the current semiconductor shortage that’s hurting our autoworkers and manufacturing – there’s no question more must be done to shore up our supply chains. These shortages and disruptions are not only a threat to our national security – but they also have devastating impacts, including limiting the availability of critical medicines and supplies and harming jobs across the country. I have long been concerned about our supply chain security and have raised alarms through my role on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

“Today’s executive order takes important and necessary steps to better secure our supply chains against vulnerabilities – particularly the semiconductor shortage currently impacting the auto industry in Michigan and around the U.S. I look forward to working with the Biden Administration to address the current semiconductor shortage crisis and will continue fighting for autoworkers in Michigan and across the country.”

Peters has repeatedly raised the alarm and worked to address our nation’s supply chain shortages, and supports the Biden Administration’s decision to use the Defense Production Act to help address these shortages. Earlier this month, Peters joined a bipartisan letter to the Biden Administration, urging them to take swift action to address the semiconductor shortage and mitigate impacts on the American auto industry. Peters has raised this supply chain disruption repeatedly with numerous Biden Administration officials in conversations both before and after President Biden took office.

In 2019, Peters released a report on the rising prices of prescription drugs and ways to lower costs. The report delved into shortages and supply chain challenges and how dependence on foreign sources could lead to national security risks. He previously sent a letter to the FDA pressing them on their efforts to counter drug shortages. Before the pandemic took full grip of the country, Peters led a bipartisan effort pressing the Administration for information on the security of the nation’s medical supply chain, as COVID-19 inched closer to the country. Peters raised alarms that COVID-19 could lead to shortages of critical drugs and medical equipment.

Last year, Peters passed bipartisan legislation into law shoring up our nation’s agricultural supply chain to ensure the safe and secure trade of agricultural goods across our nation’s border.

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